The themes in this chapter are life choices, absent fathers, crime, fate vs free will, and role models.
Role Models/ Life Choices/ Fate vs Free Will:
"I got bored and looked around for alternative entertainment. The only thing available was my sister. I began to lightly punch her in the arm…" ( Page 87)
This quote falls under life choices because at this time in the book, the final straw for the author Wes was occurring. While his mother was listening to his principal, Wes was watching T.V. with his sister. Even though he was bored when the T.V. lost reception, he could have found another thing to do to entertain himself besides punch his sister. He could have tried to fix the reception or find something else to do with his energy, but he didn't. His decision to take his boredom out on his sister prompted his mother to send him to military school, changing his attitude and environment.
"Wes could only see red. He was blind with rage. Instincts kicked in. Tony's words rang through his mind. Send a message." (Page 104)
Wes 2 was trying to seek revenge against a guy named Ray, who beat him up for sleeping with a girl that Ray had been seeing. Once Wes arrived downstairs with his pistol, the training that he received from Tony kicked in. Given that Tony was his role model, it makes sense that he would remember what his brother told him. Violence is not the answer to solving a problem, although that is basically what Wes was told growing up. This quote also falls under life choices because he chose to believe Tony when he said that the way to solve disputes was by getting back at someone. He could have chosen not to listen to that advice, but to listen to the advice about staying in school and away from the streets. If he had done that, he would have been on the right path. He listened to the wrong advice, which led to trouble with the law.
"About your question. I don't know the answer." (Page 107)
This was Wes 2's answer to his mother's question about whether he was the person who shot Ray. He refused to admit that he shot him. That answer foreshadows other events that will occur in his life. If he had admitted that he shot Ray, he could have gained respect for turning himself in, and it could have motivated him to turn his life around and start going to school. He could have learned from that incident and used it to better himself. Instead, he refused to admit that he was involved. That choice led him down a path of trouble, meaning that his destiny was determined by free will.
Crime:
"He reached up to the top shelf and pulled out the shoe box that held his 9mm Beretta and a few full clips." (Pages 103-104)
Like many other teens in the neighborhood at the time, Wes 2 had a gun. The fact that he possessed a gun and clips in his home shows how frequent crime was. Usually, people must be of age to buy a gun, and before they do, they have to pass a series of background checks. Since the teens were underage, it is puzzling as to how they got the gun in the first place. It is likely that a family member gave it to them. If that is the case, it is understandable that there would be a lot of crime, because weapon use would have diffused from generation to generation.
Absent Fathers:
"Still squinting, he looked his son in the eyes. 'Who are you?'… Part of [Wes] was hurt, part ashamed, part relieved that the awkward conversation he had been dreading wouldn't be happening." (Page 102)
At this point in the chapter, Wes 2 was attempting to say hello to his father, who wasn't really around when Wes was a kid. The fact that his father didn't really know his son at all shows that Wes didn't have a responsible older male figure he could look up to. The storm of emotions he experienced is the result of a lack of a reliable father figure. If his father had been there for him during his childhood, Wes would have had a better life.
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